Digital writing bursary launched

The Literary Platform and Bath Spa University have partnered on a new bursary for partnering writers and technologists, as a survey reveals writers do not feel well represented in debates around digital writing and publishing.

The Writing Platform Bursary was launched at TOC New York this week. It is intended to encourage experimentation and innovation in digital publishing, and is supported by the NALD Futures Fund.

Two one-off bursaries worth £3,000 are up for grabs. Each will be allocated to a project team, consisting of one writer and one technologist, who will work together on a digital literature project for three months this spring.

Judge of applicants and professor of creative writing and digital media at Bath Spa University, Kate Pullinger, said: “The new technologies bring with them new possibilities for writers who are interested in thinking about how telling a story through text on a screen can be different from telling a story on a page.

“The Writing Platform Bursary will enable writers and technologists to work together to experiment with text, screens, platforms, and stories. Get your ideas boiling, and apply!”

The Writing Platform also launched its new beta website, funded by Arts Council England, revealing the results of a survey conducted with 500 authors, of whom 35% are aspiring writers, 33% traditionally published, 15% both traditionally and self-published; and 9% self-published. The survey revealed that while 85% of writers find out about developments in writing and publishing online, less than 10% get this kind of information from their publishers, while 7% receive it from their agents.

Applicants for the bursary should apply by midday on Tuesday 12th March 2013, with more details here.

Chris Gribble of NALD Futures Fund added: “At a time of rapid and fundamental change in the creative and economic conditions in which writers work, this project will equip writers with the skills, tools and experience that will enable them to take control of their careers.”